Exterior venetian blind



Filed Sept. 6, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l Hill! ATTORNY July 30, 1940. vBROWN 2,209,384

EXTERIOR VENETIAN BLIND Filed Sept. 6, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2- INVENT RLemaa/ 6. row/r ATTOR'NEY Patented July so, 1940 UNITED STATES 2.20amsx'raaroa vENarmN BLIND Lemual G. Brown, Oklahoma City, Okla., assignorto Pioneer Manufacturing Company, Oklahoma City, Okla., a corporation ofOklahoma Application September 6, 1938, Serial No. 228,529

4 Claims.

This invention relates to Venetian blinds particularly adapted formounting on the exterior side of a window. It is known that blinds whenso mounted reflect heat of the sun away from 6 the-window and that theinterior of the room may be kept cooler without excluding the light andventilation, however, such mounting of Venetian blinds has not beenpopular because of lack of installation space, interference thereof 10with the usual window-screens, inconvenience of window washing,annoyances caused by rattling and banging thereof in the wind, insecuremount-- ing methods, dimcult and ineflicient lever control mechanisms,and many other reasons.

The principal objects of the present invention are, therefore, toprovide an exterior Venetian blind especially contrived to overcomethese difficulties and which is easily and securely installed as a unitwithin the frame of a window-screen; 8 to provide a louver controlmechanism that securely and efficiently retains the louvers in ad-Justed position without interference of the window-sash and which iseasily operated from the interior side of the screen; and to provide acontrol mechanism that cannot be operated from the outer side of thebuilding.

A further object of the invention is to provide a window-blind structureequipped with a mounting that compensates for variation in size 30 andany oif-alignment or out of squareness of the window-screen frame.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, ashereinafter described, I have provided improved details of structure,the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the exterior side of a window equippedwith a Venetian blind structure embodying the features of the presentinvention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the window and the Venetian blindstructure showing the operating lever extension for the louver controlmechanism in functional position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view from the interior side of thewindow showing the extension lever out of operative position to clearthe window-sash, a portion of the wire screen- 50 ing being broken awayto show the louvers.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through the window-screen and Venetianblind structure on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

. Fig. 5 is a detail fragmentary view of one end 55 of adjacent louversand their mounting strip by which they are attached to the stiles of awindow-screen.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of the louver controlmechanism showing the operating lever in inoperative position.

Fig. '7 is a detail perspective view of the parts 7 of the controlmechanism shown in disassembled spaced relation.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section showing a modified form oflouver control mechanism. Fig; 9 is a horizontal section on the line 9-9of Fi 8.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

l designates a standard window-frame including side and header iambs 2and 3, and a sill 5, the jambs being provided with the usual window andparting stops 6-1 and a blind stop d that is interposed between theexterior side edges of the jambs and outer casings 9 and II. Slidable inthe ways i2 and i3 formed between the respective stops are the upper andlower windowsash "-45. The outer side of the blind stop 8 usually seatsthe frame of a window-screen i6 and is inset within the outercasing asshown in Fig. 2. The frame of the screen consists of side stiles l1 andI8 connected at their upper and lower'ends by cross rails l9 and 20, towhich the wire screening 2! is attached and the edges covered by amoulding 22.

In carrying out the present invention the Ve- -netian blind structure ismounted as a unit and is attached to the frame of the window-screen. Forthis reason the window-screen is placed within the window-frame with thescreen side facing the sash, as shown in Fig. 2, whereby the Venetianblind structure may be partly inset within the confines of the framethereby limiting projection of the louvers. I

The Venetian blind structure includes a plurality of transverselyarranged louvers 23,'preferably of sheet metal, and formed of stripssubstantially conforming in width to a standard Venetian blind louverand having theirupper and lower edges bent retractively on their innerside faces, as indicated at 24 and 25, the bending of the lower edge 25being such as to provide a drip bead 26. The ends of the strips areflanged laterally on the lower or inner faces thereof to formsubstantially angular wings 21 and 28 for pivotal attachment to mountingstrips 29 and 30 and for connection by a bar 3|.

The mounting strips 29 and 30 are preferably angles arranged with oneflange 32 adapted to overlap the outer faces of the stiles l1 and ll andtheir other flanges 33 extending inwardlyin overlapping relation withthe inner side edges of the stiles to provide right angular flangeportions on which the louvers are pivotaily mounted as best shown inFig. 4.

The angular or lateral wings 21 of the respective louvers are positionedclosely to the inner faces of the flange portions and are pivotallysecured thereto by rivets or similar trunnioning devices 34 having heads35 engaging against the wings and shanks 36 extending through openings3'! therein and through registering openings 38 of the flanges 33. Theshanks of the fastening devices may be of sumcient length to accommodaterelatively thin washers 39, between the faces of the wings and flanges33, and to. project so that the ends thereof may be riveted over thefaces of the flanges. The fastening devices are drawn sufflciently tightto eliminate play but are loose enough to allow free tilting movement ofthe louvers responsive to reciprocation of the bar 3|. 4

The connecting bar 3| is attached to the wings at one end of the louversby pivotal fastening devices 40 in the same manner as the pivots justdescribed at points spaced from the adjacent flange portion 33 when thelouvers are horizontal to accommodate movement of the bar when thelouvers are shifted, since the bar, when thus at tached, issubstantially in the plane of the flange portion 33.

In order to avoid necessity of providing a. greater variety of louverlengths to accommodate every size of screen opening, the louvers for agiven size window are sufliciently short to flt the smallest screenopening, and the attaching flanges 32 of the mounting strips aresufliciently wide to compensate for any variation in the width of thewindow-frame opening for a given size window. A louver structure is,therefore, selected having such width that the flanges 33 freely enterthe frame opening and any spacing between the flanges and the adjacentinner edges of the frame or any irregularity or out of squareness of theframe is taken care of and covered by the attaching flange of themounting strips, as shown at 4| in Fig. 4. To accommodate variation inheight of the screen opening, the mounting strips are made of amplelength so that an end thereof may be cut off according to the height ofthe frame opening.

A weather-shield 42 is attached to the lower edge of the upper crossrail of the screen frame as shown in Fig. 2. The weather-shield is alsopreferably formed of sheet metal and projects outwardly from the frameand terminates in a downwardly inclined outer portion 43 having a dripedge 44. The weather-shield may be attached by fastening devices such asscrews 45 threaded through openings in the edges thereof and into theedge of the frame.

The louver control and adjusting mechanism constitutes an essential partof the'present invention and renders the louver structure just describedfeasible for exterior installation as now to be described.

A preferred form of control mechanism is illustrated in Figs. 4 to '7inclusive and includes an angle-shaped bracket 48 having one flange 41extending under the screen moulding and secured at the lower end to theinner side of one of the side stiles of the screen frame, the attachingflange 41 being of ample width so that the other flange 48 extendsoutwardly over the window-screen slightly beyond the plane of the louverwings at that side of the window. The

attaching flange 41 may be secured by fastening devices driven throughthe screen moulding. through openings 49 into the body of the screenframe. The attaching flange 41 has a slotted opening 50 of ampledimensionsso that a lever 6 arm 5| will operate freely therein.

The lever 5| includes an arm portion 82 having spaced openings 53 and 54through which the shanks of the fastening devices 34 and 40 of anadjacent louver are projected, the fastening devices 34 forming afulcrum on which the lever pivots whereby the outer end of the levercauses the louvers to pivot in changing the angular positions thereof.The lever also includes an arm 55 extending at an angle with respect tothe arm 52 and which projects through a slot 58 formed in the screen inregistry with the slotted opening 50 of the bracket 48.

In order to close the slotted openings 58 and 58, a cover strip 51,having an opening 88 therein, is carried on the inwardly projecting armof the lever and slides freely between the screen and the adjacent faceof the bracket upon movement of the lever. The closure strip 51 ispreferably moved in guided relation with the bracket by means of alateral flange 58 thereon engaging against the flange 48. The arm 55 ofthe lever has an opening 60 registering with an arcuate slot 8| in theflange 48 to accommodate a clamping mechanism whereby the lever isanchored to retain the louvers in a selected position.

If the arm 55 of the lever were constructed of suflicient length toprovide for ease of operation it would interfere with raising andlowering of the lower sash. I therefore provide a lever extension 82which has lost motion connection with the clamping device and is adaptedfor removable coupling engagement with the terminal end of the arm 55.For this reason the terminal end of the arm 55 has a notch 63 adapted tobe engaged by a stud 64 on the adjacent face of the lever extension 62,the stud 64 being spaced from a slot 65 in the lever extension. Theclamping device includes a bolt 86 having a shank 81 extending throughthe slot 85 of the lever exten- 5 sion, through a spacing washer 88,through the opening 60, through clamping washers 63 and II respectivelyengaging the opposite sides of the flange 48 of the bracket and a wingnut 'Il whereby the parts are drawn into rigid assembly when the louversare to be retained in selected adjusted position.

The modified form of control mechanism shown in Figs. 8 and 9 includes agear segment 12 having a hub 13 fixed to a trunnion 14 replacing one ofthe fastening devices 34. The periphery of the gear segment is attachedby the fastening devices 40 to the louver flange and is adapted foroscillation on the trunnion in effecting adjustment of the louvers by aworm 15. The worm I5 is fixed to a shaft 16 that is journalled in an ear1'! on the mounting strip and in an escutcheon plate I8. The plate 18has a slot 19 to accommodate the gear segment and is of sufficient sizeto cover up the screen slit necessary in passing the periphery of thesegment to connect with the pivot 40. The inner end of the shaft 16carries a crank by which the worm is rotated to effect adjustment. Inthis structure the pitch of the worm is sumcient to retain the louversin adjusted position.

In assembling the Venetian blind structure, the louvers are attached tothe mounting strips and connected at one of their ends by the bar 3|.the operating lever 5| being attached to the 75 fastening devicessecuring one of the lowermost louvers. The unit is then packaged with aweather-shield l2. and the various fittings com- V posing the raisingand lowering mechanism.

' Fig. 2.

The mounting strips, having been constructed of ample length, are thencut to correspond with the height of the window-screen opening. The

assembled unit is then applied to the windowscreen frame so that theattaching flanges 32 overlie the outer faces of the side stiles |'I|Iand the flanges 33 project in the direction'of the window-screen, a slothaving just been provided through the wire screen to pass the notchedend of the operating lever 5|. Fastening devices, such as screws ornails are then driven through openings 32' in the attaching flanges andinto the stiles of the frame. The closure strip 51 is then sleeved overthe operating lever, followed by the bracket 46 which is attached inproper position on the adjacent stile of the screen frame. The extensionarm 62 of the lever, spacing washers 68, and clamping washers 69 andIII, are then placed in the proper position with the openings thereinregistering with the slot Si and opening 60 of the lever arm. The shank61 of the bolt 66 is then passed through the respective openings and thewing nut applied to the projecting end thereof, completing the assembly.

In inoperative position the extension arm 62 will be in verticalposition as shown in Fig. 6. Therefore, to adjust the louvers the wingnut II will be loosened so that the lever arm extension may be swung onthe shank of the bolt 66 to bring the stud 64 into registery with thenotch 63, the slot 65 being of sumcient length to allow the stud 64 toclear the notched end of the operating lever. notch the lever armextension is moved retractively to cause the stud to enter the notch.The lever arm extension is then operatively connected with the lever 5!so that the lever may be swung on its pivot 34 to adjust angularposition of the louvers. When the louvers are in desired position thelever arm extension is shifted to withdraw the stud 64, whereupon theextension arm is dropped to perpendicular position, as shown in Fig. 6,after which the wing nut H is retightened to draw the clamping washersinto contact with the respective side faces of the flange 48. When thelouvers are thus retained they are rigidly supported so that they arenot afiected by the wind blowing thereagainst. Since the louvers aremounted on the exterior side of the window-screen they reflect heat ofthe suns rays and keep them from passing into the interior of thebuilding. The louvers, however, when opened, allow free circulation ofthe air therebetween to provide the desired ventilation. This movementof the air alsokeeps the louvers in cool condition and free of anyaccumulated heat that is not reflected therefrom.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided an exteriorVenetian blind structure which is readily assembled within a standardwindow-screen and which is removable with the screen as a unit forwashing of the windows and other purposes. It is also obvious that thelouver control mechanism does not interfere with slid- When the stud isin registry with the ing movement of the sash, and that there issufficient leverage to provide facile adiustmen of the louvers.

Attention is directed to the fact that since the clamping nut II is onthe inner side of the screen, it cannot be reached by an unauthorizedperson from the exterior side of the building. Therefore, when thelouvers are once set and the nut II tightened, adjustment thereof cannotbe changed from the louver side of the screen. It is obvious that whenthe louvers are moved to closed position the flanges at the ends thereofclose. any space which may occur at the ends of the louvers and that thedrip beads 26 of one louver will overlap the edge 24 of anadjacentlouver to exclude dust, snow and other elements. What I claimand desire to secure byletters Patent is:

1. An exterior Venetian blind including side stiles adapted forattachment to opposite sides of an opening in a supporting frame, saidside stiles having flanges arranged at substantially right angles to theplane of said frame, a'plurality of vertically spaced louvers bridgingthe opening between said flanges and each having a rear marginal edgeand a front edge forming a drip adapted to close against the rearmarginal edge of an adjacent louver, wings extending laterally frominner faces of said louvers substantially across the width of thelouvers at the respective ends thereof and in close relation with thefacing sides of said flanges, an actuating barextending across'theflange side of the louvers at one side .of the frame and-insubstantially the plane of the flange atthat side of the frame,trunnions connected with the wings at points spaced from saidinner facesof the louvers in substantial registry with said rear marginal saidwings "with the bar, and means for recipro-- eating thebar tosimultaneously pivot all of said louvers on the trunnions. 1

2. An exterior Venetian blind including a frame having side stiles,angle-shaped strips having lateral flanges overlapping outer faces ofthe side stiles and having right angularly projecting flange portions, aplurality of louvers arranged between said flanges and each having arear, marginal edge and a front edge forming a drip adapted to closeagainst the rear marginal edge of an adjacent louver in closed positionof the louvers, wings extending laterally from inner faces of saidlouvers substantially across the width of the louvers at the respectiveends thereof and in close relation with the facing sides of saidflanges, an actuating bar extending across the flange side ofthe louversat one side of the frame and in substantially the plane of the flange atthat side of the frame, trunnions connected with I the wings at pointsspaced from said inner faces of the louvers in substantial registry withsaid the louvers are in closed position with the front edge of onelouver overlapping the rear marginal edge of an adjacent louver, pivotmembers connecting said wings with the bar, and means for reciprocatingthe bar to pivot all of the connected louverson their respectivetrunnions.

3. An exterior Venetian blind including side stiles adapted forattachment to opposite sides of an opening in a supporting frame, saidside stiles having louver supporting flanges arranged at substantiallyright angles to the plane of said frame and lateral attaching flangesfor attachment to the supporting frame, a plurality of louvers bridgingthe opening between said supporting flanges and each having a rearmarginal edge and a front edge forming a drip adapted to close againstthe rear marginal edge of an ad- Jacent louver, wings extendinglaterally from inner faces of said louvers substantially across thewidth of the louvers at the respective ends thereof and in closerelation with the facing sides of said supporting flanges, an actuatingbar extending across the flange side of. the louvers at one side of theframe and in substantially the plane of the supporting flange at thatside of the frame, trunnions connected with the wings at points spacedfrom said inner faces of the louvers in substantial registry with saidrear marginal edges and having connection with said supporting flangesat points spaced inwardly from the front of said supporting flanges adistance less than the spacing of the trunnions from said inner faces ofthe louvers whereby said louvers are offset outwardly from said frame toaccommodate said bar when the louvers are in closed position with thefront edge of one louver overlapping the rear marginal edge of anadjacent louver, pivot members connecting said wings with the bar, andmeans for reciprocating the bar to pivot all of said louvers,

40 said lateral wings being of suflicient depth to close the spacebetween the louvers and flanges when the louvers are in closed position.

4. An exterior Venetian blind including side stiles adapted forattachment to opposite sides of an opening in a supporting frame, saidside stiles having flanges arranged at substantially right angles to theplane of said frame, a plurality of louvers bridging the opening betweensaid flanges and each having a rear marginal edge and a front edgeforming a drip adapted to close against the rear marginal edge of anadjacent louver, wings extending laterally from inner faces of saidlouvers substantially across the width of the louvers at the respectiveends thereof and in close relation with the facing sides of saidflanges, an actuating bar extending across the flange side of thelouvers at one side of the frame and in substantially the plane of theflange at that side of the frame, trunnions connected with the wings atpoints spaced from said inner faces of the louvers in substantialregistry with said rear marginal edges and having connection with theflanges at points spaced inwardly from the front of said flanges adistance less than the spacing of the trunnions from said inner faces ofthe louvers whereby said louvers are offset outwardly from said frame toaccommodate said bar when the louvers are in closed position with thefront edge of one louver overlapping the rear marginal edge of anadjacent louver, pivot members connecting said wings with the barwhereby all of said louvers are simultaneously pivoted on said trunnionsresponsive to reciprocation of the bar, means for reciprocating the bar,and an operating lever having fulcrum support on one of said trunnionsand pivotal connection with a corresponding pivot member for effectingreciprocation of said bar.

LEMUAL G. BROWN.

